NEW CHANDIGARH'S VILLAGE MIANPUR CHANGAR IS BEING FORCIBLY OCCUPIED BY FORMER IAS OFFICER AND HIS SON: RESHAM SINGH WADALI, PRESIDENT, BKU (KADIAN), ROPAR, VICTIMS HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PUNJAB, VIGILANCE, AND ED, DETAILING THE ENTIRE MATTER
Face2News/Chandigarh
Approximately 9 acres of land belonging to around 14 people in the village of Mianpur Changar in New Chandigarh are allegedly being illegally occupied by S7 Holding Company, owned by former IAS officer KBS Sidhu’s son, Sahaj Sidhu, to develop a project named Amari Hills.
In a press conference held on Tuesday at the Chandigarh Press Club, Resham Singh Wadali, President of the Ropar district unit of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Kadian), along with former village head Sajjan Singh, village elder Gurnam Singh from Siunk, Advocate Pritpal Singh Bassi, and social worker Navdeep Singh, stated that the landowners had filed a case in court to stop the work on their land.
The court, after hearing both sides, issued a stay order, but construction continues regardless, and the police are not addressing their concerns. Resham Singh Wadali revealed that the landowners did not sell their land or seek approvals from the tehsil or the officials at GAMADA, yet their land was seized and a project was approved on it.
Despite being under investigation for a multi-crore irrigation scam, former IAS officer KBS Sidhu is not being acted against, while the victims are being falsely implicated. Complaints have been filed with the Punjab Chief Minister, Vigilance, and ED with full details of the case.
Victims' lawyer Pritpal Singh Bassi stated that the land in question is part of a larger undivided property, and the registration of the sale deeds was incorrect since no one can sell a portion of such land. There was also evasion of stamp duty, for which a complaint has been made to the DC. Additionally, a complaint was lodged with the Vigilance Bureau to investigate the source of funds for the project, given the former officer's involvement in corruption. Despite a stay from the Kharar court, work on the project continues unabated.(SUBHEAD)
Among those affected is an 11-year-old orphan, Gursharan Singh Gary, who is currently studying, and whose land has also been seized. Former Captain Trilochan Singh’s wife Rupinder Kaur and Nagar Singh’s wife Manjit Kaur’s land have similarly been taken. Despite repeated attempts to seek redress, they face assault and false charges. Victims, who own different plots in the village, allege that S7 Holding Company has purchased about 55 acres and has started construction in one place. When landowners tried to stop the work, they were attacked by company employees, with former village head Sajjan Singh being assaulted. Despite video evidence, the police charged Sajjan Singh with trespassing.
The landowners turned to the court, which on April 3, 2024, issued a stay on the Amari Hill project’s construction. The company presented its case, and on May 20, 2024, the stay was confirmed, prohibiting construction without land partition. Nonetheless, work continues on-site, causing great anger among the landowners. They reported that an 11-kanal plot belongs to a minor orphan, and several female landowners who lack the means to fight against the company are also affected.
Complaints have been filed with various authorities against KBS Sidhu and his son for forging documents to gain approval for Amari Hill. The landowners trust the law and expect justice from the administration and the courts. They have appealed to the police to halt work on the Amari Hill project and to arrest KBS Sidhu and his son for their fraudulent activities.
